The following is a selection of ideas for days out that may have escaped your notice. Hopefully, it will help you either get the most out of the sun, mitigate the impact of torrential rain or possibly even both.

The dry ski slope in Swadlincote offers skiing, toboganning, tubing and snowboarding all year round

The ski centre is open all-year round but relatively few people think about skiing during the summer. Children and adults can learn how to ski and snowboard on artificial slopes. There are all-day courses that can turn you from a complete beginner into, well, a much more confident beginner. There is also a 500m toboggan run and it is only about 30 minutes away from Derby.

This wildlife park looks after otters, deer, wildcats, foxes and a wide variety of owls. Visitors can see the animals and the experienced and knowledgeable keepers give regular talks. There is also the opportunity to have a Keeper Experience, shadowing one of the keepers for a day and getting an in-depth insight into their work.

A 7,000sq ft indoor play centre at the Darwin Forest Country Park provides soft play for younger children. Designed for the under 12s, there is also a sports pitch where youngsters can play football and basketball. For parents and guardians, there is a cafe with free wi-fi internet access, a television and newspapers. It is open all year round with the exception of Christmas Day.

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A National Trust property close to Derby city centre that takes visitors back in time to the 1760s. There are paintings, sculpture and furnishings from the 18th century and a selection of fascinating objects collected by Lord Curzon while serving as Viceroy of India between 1899 and 1905.

Back in 1665, the people of Eyam found that the plague had reached their village. To prevent it spreading further, they isolated themselves from the outside world. The Eyam Museum tells the story of their courageous self-sacrifice.

A chance to explore the history of the lead-mining industry in Derbyshire. Visitors can experience the working conditions of a 1920s lead mine, pan for gold and a collection of interesting minerals and objects from the mining industry.

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Three-and-a-half acres of rhododendron gardens featuring some 500 varieties. It was founded by John Marsden-Smedley, owner of luxury knitwear firm John Smedley, in 1935. There are also azaleas, kalmias and numerous other plants and shrubs as well as a pleasant teashop.

The ex-Villeneuve Ferrari and Andretti's Lotus can be found at the Donington Grand Prix Collection

It is the world's largest display of F1 and Grand Prix racing cars. The exhibits illustrate the history of motorsport from the turn of the 20th century to the present day. The collection includes the first F1 car driven by Ayrton Senna and the cars driven by Stirling Moss. There are also cars built by Ferrari, Lotus, Brabham, Force India and Jordan.

A wide range of outdoor activities are on offer, including orienteering, falconry, archery, astronomy, laser games, Nordic walking and Tai Chi. There are also soft-play areas and outdoor play areas for children under eight years old.

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A charming stately home with a rich history and beautiful gardens considered among the finest surviving examples of the early-18th-century style. It features a celebrated wrought-iron arbour known as The Birdcage. The hall is open every afternoon in August from with the exception of the first three Mondays. The gardens are open on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from April to September.

A 13-mile trail running from Parsley Hay in the north to Ashbourne, in the south. It follows the route of the London and North Western Railway between Buxton and Ashbourne that was closed in the 1960s. The Tissington Trail is a traffic-free trail for walkers and cyclists. Bicycles can be hired at Parsley Hay, near Buxton.